Fluid-pressure brake system.



PATBNTED PEB. 4, 19,08. j I

G. M. SPENCER.

FLUID PRESS'RB BRAKE SYSTEM,

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 3. 1.907.

y nvm/mfr Y G.v M. Spencer WHA/5885s;

ATTORNEYS ence being had GEORGE M. SPENCER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

FLUID-RESSURE A BRAKESYSTEM.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

Pstented'reb. 4, 190s.

Appiimiou nea August a. 19o?. serial No. 386322.

To all 'whomit may concern:

`Be` it known that-I, GEORGE MQ SPENCER, a citizen ,of the 'United States, residing at Str;Kv Louis, 1n the Statev of Missouri, hav'e invente 'a 'certain new 'and useful Fluid-Pressure 'Brake' System,` of which the following is such a-full, clear, and exact'description as `enable any one skilled in the art to which it appertains to make 'and use 'the same, referingsr formingpart ofl this speclcation.

vMyinvention relates" to a fluid pressure .brake system and is particularly adapted for use upon a street railway car. n

Onefobject of my invention iste provide means for utilizing a portion of the air, or other fluid for actuating the brake cylinder so as to not only'savethe ower'represented by the compression of suc air, but also to enable the'pump to be started under light load, thus preventing injury both to .the

um and the motor for the same.

Another object of my invention is to provide means independent of the air pressure. in the supply tank for. insuring aperiod of rest to the pump and driving motor; i

Still'another object of my invention is to provide a reserve sup ly of air which may be used at times when t e pump is outof operation In the accompanying drawings which illustrate one form of brake system made in ac- Figure 1 -is a .diagrammatic view, jpartly in section, and

Y Fiov 2 is a detailed view -of the 'controlling vave. Like', marks -ofreference refer 'to similar par-ts ipnboth. iews of the drawings.l

5-represents .the brake cylinder, which is of the usual forni. The piston rod'of the brake cylinder4 5|. is pivoted at 6 to the brake lever 7. Extending from the, brake'eylinder 5 to the controllingvalve 8 is a'4 ipe 9-which serves l both as afsu ly'and a discharge assage for PP P 4 the pi pe 13 entends -the'fbrakexcylinder 5. The valve 8 is operated by 'means ofa ha'n'dfe 10 provided with a movable portion 11 for purposes to be hereinafter described. In additionto vthe pipe 9, the valve.8 is provided with two other pipes Al2 and- 13 respectivelvf The ipe 12 extends from'l the valve 8 to the su p y tank 14 and from t e valve 8 to the equaliing tank .15. A check valve 16 prevents the return of air "from the equalizi'ng tank 'to the valve '8. The pipe 13 is also provided with a discharge 4valve 17 normally to the accompanying drawdischarged into the atmosphere.

ated by means of the pawl24` .pawl 24.

controller 34. This pumps. 37 are two held in osition by means 'of a coil spring 18. The va ve '17 is providedwith an upwardly extending lstem 19, which is adapted to be `operated by the movable member 11 on the handle 10.4

`In operating the nication with the supply tank 14, so as to apply the brake. If it is desired to release the brake, the valve is moved'into a position to lace the c linder 5 into communication wit the equa izing ta-'nk 15.v The ressure will-now become equalized in the ey 'nder 5 and tank 15, after which the movable member 11 on the handle 10 is operated so as to depress the stem 19 and open the .valve 17 brake the valve 8 is-irst y moved by-means of the handle 10 into posi- -tion to put the brake cylinder -5 into commuso that the remaining air in the cylinder 5 is.

The valve 16. revents the escape oi the air from-the' ta 115.

Mounted on the supply tank is-.a -casing-20. This casing 20 has mounted in' it a shaft-21 a ratchet wheel 22 and a cam'23. The ratchetwheel 22.is adapted to be operivoted on an ever 7. This arm 25 carried by* the brake 'pawl 24 normally engages the ratchet wheel 22 at each o eration of the brake cylinder so as to inove t Ve said Wheel forward one' tooth. The pawl '24, however, may operation by means of a hook 26 adapted to engalge with aneye 27 carried on a handle 28 whic lis sulpplied he ,cam 23 bears upon a roller 29 mounted onthe end 4of a rod 30 adapted to slide longitudinally'in the casing 20. This rod 30 hasrigidly secured to'it a collar 31l Bearin 'on the collar 31 is .a coil spring 32 which olds the roller 29 in contact with the face` of `the cam 23. The collar 31 alsoengages 'with one end of a lever\33 of the circuit circuit controller 34 is connected by means of wires 35' withtlie motor 36 which drives the vpumps 37. -The in number-and are connected to the crank shaft 38 at a distance of 180 apart, so'that when the piston of one pump is ascending the other is descending. Each of the pumps 37 is provided with an intake valve39 and aldischarge valve 40.

be held out of for manually moving the` The intake valves 39 areconnected by means e 41 with. the equalizing tank 15' hereinbefore described.

in place of being directly connected with the tank 15 is connectedwith said tank through a engages with the collar 31 on therod 30 so that valve 42, which valve is adapted to be closed by means of the longitudinally movable rod 3() hereinbefore described. This rod 30 -is provided with a cup leather 43 working in a' cylindrical bore 44 in the'casing 2() so as toform a-dash pot. The extension 45 of the casing 2() carrying the valve 42 communicates with the end of this bore 44 and isprovided with a small openin 46 sup lying the air to the dash pot and t us' regu ating thel rapidity of the `return of the rod 30.

n addition to theL cam 23, the rod 30 is adapted to beoperated by the ressure of the air in the sup ly tank 14', iii accomplish' this, tlie supply tank' ]4Q 'is pro vided with an outlet 47 communicating withA a short cylindrical opening 48 in the 'fbase of the casing. 20. This cylindrical ortion 48 is provided with a diaphragm 49 eld against the pressure of the air by means of a coil spring 50 and provided with a stem 5 1 adapted to strike against onearm of a bell crank lever-52, the opposite arm of which when the pressure in the tank 14.beoomes suilicient to overcome the tension pf the spring 50, the bell crank lever 52 be.

operated to move the rod 3() longitudinally.

In addition to the suppl tank '14,'- I provide a storage tank 55. bs'storae 55 is connected with the suppl' tan '14,ly

'two pipes 56 and 57 respective y Situa d in the pipe 56 isa check valve 58 adapted to allow the passage olf.. from Vthe supply tank 14 into the storavetkrr'whenever the pressure in the supply tank 14 risescabove that in the storage tank .55. 'The valve, however, prevents any return -of, pressure froml the storage tank into the 'supply tank Without regard to any relative-difference in the pressures in the twotanks. The .pipe57 is (provided with a reducin valve 59, This re ucing valve 59 norma y prevents communicationbetween the two tanks, but is so. arranged that when the tank 14 becomes nearly empty and thefconscquent differencen in the pressure between the two .tanks ,is sufliciently great it will allow the 'air from the storage tank 55 4to pass into the supply tank'14. j

In the operation of the device, as has been above described, the air. from the brake cylinder 5 is discharged into the equalizing tank 15 so that a portion of the com resse ail: is saved lfor reuse, .bein pum e( equalizing tank 15 an( into t -e suppl ,tank

14 by the pump 37. This action w' take place whenever the parts are in the position shown in Fig. '1 of the-drawings.' When, however, the pressure in the tank 1,4 becomes sufiicient to overcome the resistance of the spring 50, the rod 31' will be moved'by means o the bell crank lever 52'so as to swingthe controller arm 33 on its pivot and thus cut off thesupplyorI electricity fromthe motor order toout of the fthe enlarged portion of the cam 23w1llco'me in contactwith 'the'roller 29 and thus actuate the rd 30 and -consequently cut off the current from the motorv26 and close the valve 42. 4The operation of the motor will thus be prevented until the brake has been operated a sufiicient number of times to move the enlar ed portion ofthecam 23 out of contact 'witili the roller29 and thus allow the stem 30 t return to its initial position under the formed -by the c u leather 43 Working in the ,bore 44 compels t e gradual return of the rod 30' to its -normal position' so that the motor 36 is cut into operation gradually.

1 It will be' evident that from the arrangement ofrny system a portion of the air which in the ordinary system is used in my system so as not only' to prevent a waste of power but to enable the pumps to start up under a light load,.vtl 1uspreventing damage to the pum and the motor driving the same, and that, furthermore, a redetermined period ard' to the amount of a1r used or to any `eakage which.- may occur in the pipes. This predetermined .period of rest prevents the pumps from being burned out by continual use. In'the ordinary brake. system leak occurs in' any of the pipe connections. In case a leak occurs in my brake mechanism, the continual operation of the pumps is avoided so that there is no danger of injury'. to the pumps. If such leak 1s' serious, the cam 23 may be moved into position'to throw'the-pump out of operationand the pawl 24, may then be held out of operative position by means of the hook 26 so that the be .completed with the air in the reserve or storage tank V55. In case the pum' sare in operation`after all the compresse airg has been pumped out of the e ualizing tank 15 it is evident that the airom "the atmos- 16 and 17, as both these valves open mwardly. .This will allow the air to freely enter the tank 15 from which it may always .pass to'the pumps when .they are in operation, the'valves'42 being always open when the pumps are in operation. I

pressure of the spring 32. The dash pot is 10st by being vented into the atmosphere of rest is forced u'pon t e pumps without rethis ,is4 very likely." to happen when a seriousn pum is entirely thrown out of' operation, in whic case the remainder of the run mayphere may enter the tank through the valves so 9o roo - and brake generator.

I Iaving fully described' my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters. Patent of the United States is:

-.1. In a fluid, pressure brake,systen1,'the combination 1with 'a brake cylinder, of an operative supply therefor, a generator connected with said supply, an equalizing tank into which said b rakecylinder is adapted to discharge, a check valve for preventing the return of air from said equalizing tank, ,and vconnections between sald equalizing tank! and generator.

2. In afiuid pressure brake system, the combination with' a brake cylinder, 'of an' operative supply therefor, a generator connected with said supply, an equalizing tank, connections between said brake cylinder and equalizing tank,said connections being provided with a vent to the atmosphere, and connections between said equalizing tank 3.- Ina fiuid pressure'brake system, the combination with a brake cylinder, of an operative supply therefor, a. generator connected with said supply, an equalizing tank, connections' between said brake cylinder and equalizin tank, said connections'being provided wilt `a manually operated vent tothe atmosphere, and connections between sald.

equalizing tank and brake generator. 4. In a iiuid ressure brakesystem, the combination wit a brake cylinder,.of a'supply tank therefor, an equalizing tank, a

valve adapted to Jplace said brake r cylinderin connection wit-h either said supply tank or equalizing tank, a manually controlledvent from said-cylinder to the atmosphere, and a generator connected with 4said equalizing and suppl tank.

5. In a fluid pressure" brake system, the combination with a brakecylinder, of a supply tank therefor, an :e ualizing tank, a valve adapted to place said brake cylinder in connection with elther said'equalizing or supply tank, a 'vent to theiatmosphere adapted to be operated by the movement of said valve, anda generator connected with said equalizing and supply tanks.

' 6.a. In aluid pressure brake system, the combination with a 'brake' cylinder, of an operativesupply therefor, a generator connected with 'said supply, an equalizing ltank into which said brake cylinder is adapted to discharge, a passage connecting said equaliling tank and generator, and means for closing said passage.

T. ln'a fluid pressure brake"system, the combination with a-brake cylinder, of'an operative supply therefor, a generator conueccud'with said supply, an equalizing tank which said brake cylinder is adapted to hai-ge, a passage connecting' said equalzin; i :ank and generator, and means controlled 'by the operation f the brake cylinder for closing sin passage.

:combination Wit discharge, a passage connecting said equaliz. v

ing tankwiththe generator, and means op-4 erated by the pressure ofsaidsupply for closingsaidpassage; 4

A9. In a fiui'd pressure brake system, the

combination with abrake cylinder, of an operative supply therefor, a generator connected with said supply, an equalizing tank into which said brake cylinder is adapted to discharge,`a passage connecting said equalizing tank and generator, and means operated by the brake cylinder for closingsaid assage, said means also bein independent y oper; ated by the pressure o saidsupply.

. 10. In a.f iuid pressure brake system, lthe combination with abrake cylinder, of an operative su ply therefor, a generator connected Wit said supply, means for operating said generator, and acontrolling device for said operating means actuated by the brake cylinder, said controlling device also `being ractuated by the pressure. of said supply. Y

11. In a fluid pressure brake system, the combination with'a brake cylinder, of an operative supply"therefor, -a generator connected with said supply, operative means for said enerator, an equalizingtank into which said rake cylinder is ada tedto discharge, a passage connecting.- sai 4equalizing tank and generatongand means for' controlling said operative means; and' closing said passage. -f l' 12. In a fluid. fessure brake system, the

a brake cylinder, of an operative supply therefor, a generator connected with said supply,` foperative means for said enerator, an equalizmg tank' into which said rake cylinder is'adapted to discharge, a passage connecting said. equalizing tank and said generator, and means operated by the pressure of said supply for c trolling said operative means and closing said passage.

14. In a fluid pressure brake syste1n','tlie `combination with a brake cylinder, of an operative supply therefor, a generator connected with said supply, operative ineans for said generator, an equalizing tank into which said brake cylinderis ada ted to discharge, a passage connecting sai( equalizing tank said generator, 'an equaliz'ing' tank into which and generator, and means operated by the brake cylinder and independentl 'by the pressure of the suppl for contro ling said operative means and c osing said passage. l5. In a fiuid pressure brake system, the

'combination with a brake cylinder, of a supply 'tank therefor, a generator connected with said supply tank, a storage tank, a check valve permitting the passage of'fiuid from said supply tank to said storage tank,

and a reducing valve permitting the flow 'of fluid from said storage tank 'to said supply,

' 'which-said tank. l

16. In a fluid pressurebrake system, `combination with a brake cylinder, of a supply tank therefor, a generator connected with said supply tank, actuating means for said generator, a storage tank, a check valve betweensaid supply and storage ta between said supply tank and storage tank, a reducing valve between said suppdy tank and storage tank, and a controlling device operated by the pressure in said supply tank 'for said actuating means.

17. In a fluid pressure brake system, the' combination with a 'brake cylinder, ofja supply tank therefor, a generator connected with said -supply tank, actuating means for said generator, a storage tank,- a check valve between said su ply and storage. tanks, a re ducing valve tween said supply'and stok age tanks, and a controlling device .operated- 'by' the brake cylinderfor said actuating means.

18. .In a fluid pressureqbrake system, the combination with a brake'cylinder, of a sup-` ply tank therefor, a generator connected with said supply tank, a storage tank,a check.

combination witha brake cylinder, of a sup-4 ply tank therefor, `a. generator connected with said supply tank, a storage tank, a check valve, a reduci valve between said supplyand stora e tan s,an.eqi1alizing tankinto which sai( brake cylinder is adapted to dis-- charge, and means controlled by the brake cylinder for cutting said-generator out of operation, said means being'also controlled' by the ressure in the sup y tank. 20. n a fluid pressure rake system, the combination with av brake cylinder, of a supply tank therefor, a vgenerator .connected with said supply tank, -a storagel tank, check land reducing valves between said supply andv stora e tank's, an equalizing tank into which said rake cylinder is adapted to discharge,

the

. ply

said generator being connected with said equalizing tank, a valve in said tor, a cam for-actuating said movable'member, and means for actuating said cam.

21. In'a fluid 'pressure brake system, the combination with a brake cylinder, of a supply tank therefor., agenerator connected with said supply tank, a storage tank, check and storage tanks, an equalizing tank'into i brake cylinder is adapted to dis- Charge, said generatorbeing connected'with said equalizing tank, a valve `.in saidlatter connection,.a movable member controlling said valve and the operation of said generator, a cam for actuatingsaid movable member, and means' operated' by thebrake cylinder for actuating said cam.

22. In a fluid pressure brake system, the combination witha brake cylinder, lof a suplatter con- I nections, a movable, member controlling said valve and the operationof said generatank therefor, a generator connected with said v'supply tank, a storage tank, check and reducing valves between said supply and stora tanks, an'equalizing tank into which said rake cylinderisadapted-to discharge,

said* generatorjconnected with said equalizing tank,':a valvein said latter con` `nection, a movehlefmember controlling saidA valve andthe? operation of saidv generator, a cam, for actuating said movable member,

'. 23. In .a iluid'pressure brake system, the

vcombination;wtl1 a brake, cylinder, of a suptank into h said .brake cylinder is adapted to dis' .charge a; generator connected with said plly"l tank therefor, an equa w c equ'a zing-tank, valve in said connection,

'a member ada ted to actuate said valve, an 'electric controler actuated by said member, 'a cam for operat' said'member, a ratchet wheel connected with said cam, and means foractuat' said ratchet wheel.

24. In a uid pressure ybrake system, th combination with a brake cylinder, of a supplg. .tank therefor, an equalizing tankvmto w i cli-said brake cylinderis adapted to dis charge, a eneratorconnectedwith said equaltan a 'valve' in said connection, a member adapted to actuate said valve, an

electric 'controller actuated by said member, a eamfor operating said4 member, a ratchet wheel connected with said cam, and means V means for actuatingsaidcam, and means-for throwing saidlatter device out 'of operation.

operated by theabrake cylinderfor'operating said ratchet wheel.` l

255111- a fluid pressure brake system, the

combination with a brake cylinder, of an op erative su ply therefor, a generator con.

nected' wit said supply, and means 'for-au' tomatically cutting said generator out of e operation, said means holding said generator out-of 'operation for a period of rest independently of the pressure in said supply.

75 and reducing. .valves between said supply .I

26. In a luid ressure brake system, the combination with) a brake cylinder, of an equalizing tank into Which said brakecylinder is adapted to discharge, an operative supply for the said brake cylinder, a generator connected with said equalizing tank and Supply, and means for automatically cutting said generator out of operation, said means holding said generator out oi operation for a period of rest independently of the pressure in said supply.

27. In a fluid pressure brake system, the combination with a brake cylinder, of 'an operative supply therefor, a storage tank connected with said supply, a generator connected with said supply, means for automatically cutting said generator out of opera- .tion,said means holding said generator' out of operation for a period of rest independently ci the pressure in the said supply.

2S. In a fluid pressure brake system, the comhin ation with a hre-ke cylinder, of an operative supply therefor, a generator connected with said supply, a controller for said generator, means for actuating said controller to cut said generator out of operation, said means retaining said controller to hold said generator out of operation for a period of rest independently of lthe pressure in said supply, and means for retarding the returnof said controller.

29. In a-iiuid pressure 'brake system,the

With said equalizing tank and said supply, a 4

controller -for said generator, means for actuating said controller to cut said generator out of operation, said means retaining said controller to hold said generator out of operation fora period of rest independently of the pressure insaid supply, and means for retarding the return of said controller.

30. In a `I'luid ressure brake system, the combination Wit. a brake cylinder, of an operative supply therefor, a storage tank connected with said supply, a generator connected With said supply, a controller for said generator, means for actuating said controller to cut said generator out of operation, said means retaining said controller t0 hold said generator out of o eration for aperi'od of rest independently oi the pressure in said supply, and'meansforretarding the return of said controller.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my-hand and afixd my seal in the presence of the two subscribing Witnesses GEORGE M. SPENCER. [L. s.]"

IVitnesses: l

W. A. ALEXANDER, ELIZABETH BAILEY. 

